TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 23, 2011) - Niagara Region Chartered Accounting students Nora Kaethler and Marc Priestley were two of just 18 Ontario students to make the prestigious Honour Roll for top marks on this year's Canada-wide Uniform Evaluation (UFE), one of the world's most challenging professional entry examinations.

They'll join almost 1,200 soon-to-be Chartered Accountants – one of the biggest Ontario classes in the profession's history – at Toronto's Westin Harbour Castle on Saturday, February 26 to celebrate passing the UFE. It's a colourful celebration featuring pipers, music and a proud parade of young achievers and their families. The Ontario Government will be represented by the Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins, MPP, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

The UFE, written in September, is a national three-day evaluation that assesses whether candidates have acquired an appropriate degree of professional competency, including both a significant body of knowledge along with the skills and aptitudes to analyze, synthesize and apply that knowledge effectively. The UFE is an important component of the CA professional qualification program, which includes prescribed education, experience and examination requirements. Only those who complete this entire program successfully are entitled to use the prestigious designation of Chartered Accountant.

A St. Catharines native, Ms. Kaethler has a Bachelor of Accounting degree from Brock University and articles at Crawford, Smith and Swallow Chartered Accountants LLP in St. Catharines. On why she chose the profession, Ms. Kaethler said: "I chose to become a CA because I've always liked the problem-solving side of accounting. I like the fact that it isn't a stagnant industry and that there is always more to learn. When I found out I made the Honour Roll, it was a shock, although I had been hoping for it. There is a steep learning curve involved in the CA qualification process and you have to apply yourself all the time."

Raised in Fonthill and currently a Toronto resident, Mr. Priestley also has a Bachelor of Accounting degree from Brock University and articles at BDO Canada LLP in Mississauga. "In high school, I was lucky enough to be in a good accounting program with a really dedicated teacher who promoted the CA program to her students," said Mr. Priestly. "I knew I wanted to be in finance and that I needed more than a generic business degree. The amount of opportunity the CA designation provides on a world-wide basis is amazing. If you're interested in going anywhere or taking on anything, it helps you do it."

Vicky Au of Markham captured the Canadian Gold Medal as the country's top UFE writer. Ms Au has a Master of Accounting degree from the University of Waterloo. She lives in Markham and is currently articling at Deloitte & Touche LLP in Toronto. In total, Ontario had 1,172 of the country's 3,046 successful UFE writers and captured 18 of 50 National Honour roll spots.

"Congratulations to all of the successful Ontario candidates," said Rod Barr, FCA, President and CEO, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario. "Qualifying to become a CA is a very challenging process and the resulting career is rich in rewards and opportunities. I am confident that all of the students will make great contributions in their future careers and will uphold the high standards of the CA profession."

Interviews with Honour Roll students and/or photographs are available on request.

About the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario:

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario is the qualifying and regulatory body of Ontario's 33,000 Chartered Accountants and 5,000 CA students. Since 1879, the Institute has protected the public interest through the CA profession's internationally recognized standards of qualification and the enforcement of its rules of professional conduct. Ontario CAs contribute greatly to international and domestic investor confidence in the soundness of the Ontario and Canadian economies. The Institute's website is: www.icao.on.ca and the student website is www.guidetorulingtheworld.ca.